Shields Ferry closes during the evening for two weeks due to lack of staff

The Shields Ferry will not operate evening crossings between Monday and Saturday for two weeks from this Monday 11 July.

Nexus, the public body which owns and operates the ferry, said it is reducing to a 12-hour timetable due to a lack of crew availability.

However, a plan is in place to ensure the reinstatement of the full timetable from Monday 25 July.

The changes mean the last Ferry crossing from North Shields will be at 6pm, starting from this Monday 11 July, until Saturday 23 July.

However, on each Sunday services will run until 7pm due to the summer concerts taking place in Bents Park in South Shields on 10, 17 and 24 July.

Customer Services Director, Huw Lewis, said: “Reducing services is the last thing that we want to do but by planning a small reduction in service we hope to avoid short-notice cancellations and this way our customers can better know what to expect and plan their journeys with confidence in the weeks ahead.

“We have worked to ensure there is a service in place until 7pm for each of the Sunday concerts in Bents Park to ensure customers can use the service to travel home.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience this causes to our customers.”

The temporary Shields Ferry timetable will mean the first crossing of the day will still be at 6.45am, Monday to Saturday, but the last crossings will be at 5.45pm, from South Shields., and 6pm from North Shields.